Celebrities take part in Pangbourne charity shoot

ANT and Dec, Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield were among the celebrities who raised £40,000 by taking part in a charity clay pigeon shoot last week.

The TV stars spent the day at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School in Pangbourne, in aid of the Shooting Star Chase – a children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Phillip Schofield, who has been a patron of the leading children’s hospice charity for more than 15 years, hosted the event with his wife, Stephanie, and together they welcomed 25 teams to one of the UK’s premiere shooting schools.

Entrepeneur and Dragon’s Den judge Peter Jones headed up one team and life coaches on This Morning, Nik and Eva Speakman, also took on the pigeon shooting stands together.

Declan Donnelly, who accidentally broke a gun during the shoot, said: “I don't know how it happened – maybe I’m too strong. But the most important thing is I beat Ant.

“We were neck-and-neck until the last stand, but I won in the end. Ant isn’t very happy about it, but I’m over the moon.

“It’s been a brilliant day and everyone’s had a laugh, and to be able to raise a few quid for a very worthy cause at the same time is great.”

The teams enjoyed multiple shooting sessions, followed by a meal, where guests competed against each other for auction lots, including a luxury golf break, a private box at Tony Hadley’s Royal Albert Hall performance and a case of vintage wine, donated by Philip Schofield.

Schofield said about Shooting Star Chase: “I’ve known the charity for so long. I remember having the plans for one of the hospices on my kitchen table.

“And if you visit, you realise it’s not a place of sadness – it’s a place of joy and celebration, and a place of happiness for families in those final hours, days or months.

“It’s awful to think anyone has to step through those doors but I’m so grateful the angels that work at Shooting Star Chase are on the other side.

“The charity do an utterly incredible job and that’s why I’m proud to be involved.”